The moment of a force is the force times the perpendicular distance from the pivot. Slide the loads in and out and change their weights. The beam turns the way of the larger moment; when the clockwise and anticlockwise moments are equal, it sits level. Distance matters as much as force.
MissionMake the beam balance, so the clockwise moment equals the anticlockwise moment.Balances 0Best 0
A seesaw is balanced when:
anticlockwise moment (left) = W₁ × d₁8.0 N m
clockwise moment (right) = W₂ × d₂8.0 N m
statebalanced
moment = force × perpendicular distance from the pivot. Equal and opposite moments give no turning.